​​U​nderstanding your options

​Licence status comparison

	Practising	Former licensee
2026-27 annual fee​	$1,131.50​​	$0
Am I licensee of BCCNM?	Yes	No
Can I practise in B.C.?	Yes	No
Will I get communication from BCCNM?	Yes. You receive the licensee newsletter and any special bulletins.	No
Can I still call myself a midwife?	Yes. You can use:  Registered midwife Midwife RM	No. You cannot use the title "midwife," "registered midwife," the abbreviation "RM."
Can I be a member of a BCCNM committee?	Yes, if you are in good standing with the college (subject to specific committee composition requirements).	No​ ​ ​
Midwives Association of British Columbia membership	Yes	No. You must hold a BCCNM licence to be a member of MABC. ​ ​

​ ​

​​​Leaving practice

Cancel your licence and become a former licensee

Apply: Complete and submit the Application for Resignation of Licence to Licensing Services at registermidwives@bccnm.ca​. 

Pay fee: Pay the $85+GST Cancellation fee.​

Notify Clients: Notify clients of your cancellation.

Records

• All original retained records of clinical care are securely transferred to another licensed midwife who is practising midwifery in BC and retain documentation of the transfer.​
  
• When a shared care midwifery practice closes, all midwives who provided care to a client shall have access to the client's original records or a complete copy of the records.
• Inform BCCNM where the client records will be stored and how they can be accessed. If the midwife is leaving the community where the client's care was provided, and the midwifery practice remains in that community, consideration should be given to having the client's original records remain in the community where care was provided.

Leaving practice due to disability/illne​ss

Check with your disability insurance company before you make changes to your status. Some disability carriers may require you to maintain practising licence to receive benefits.​​​​​​​

Important:

If you choose to reinstate your practising midwife licence, you'll need to meet Quality Assurance program requirements​ for continuing competencies and clinical experience. Leaves greater than 36 months may result in you being unable to meet the clinical experience requirement for reinstatement. ​

Returning to pra​​ctice

If yo​u are a former BCCNM licensee, you must submit a reinstatement application to return to practice. BCCNM recommends submitting your application a minimum of 4-6 weeks in advance of your anticipated licensure date. If you believe your application may be considered complex, you may wish to submit your application earlier.

​​How to reinstate your licence

1. Prepare your docum​​​ents

To avoid delays in processing your application, prepare the following documents before you start your application:

• Notarized name change document or marriage certificate: If you have changed your name since you last held a practising licence with us, you will need to have your documents notarized. You do not need to have your documents notarized if your name has not changed since you last held practising licence with us. Learn more about accepted forms of identification​
  

• Proof of completion of competency requirements​: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), emergency skills (ES), fetal health surveillance (FHS) and Neonatal resuscitation (NRP) if you are reinstating your practising licence. If it has been less than 60 days since you last held practising licence, you are not required to submit certificates, but you will be asked to attest to having valid competencies

• New licensee documentation: If you were subject to the Policy on New Licensee Requirements and did not complete the requires prior to leaving practice, you will need to submit an updated New Licensee Mentorship Agreement​. 

• Letters of standing: A letter of standing and professional conduct/verification of licence from any regulator with which you have held or currently hold a licence. This must be received by BCCNM directly from the regulator. 
  

• Criminal record check: You will be asked to consent to a criminal record check​ if it has been more than five (5) years since your last or if you are a former licensee. ​​

2. Compl​ete your application and pay fee

• Com​​​pl​​​ete Form 104 Application for Reinstatement of a Midwife Licence​.

• If you are applying for reinstatement of a practising midwife licence, you must also complete and submit Form 131 Quality Assurance Declaration of Currency and Competency​ with your application.​​
  

• Fees: You will pay a $265+GST reinstatement application fee when your application is submitted. Reinstatement fees are non-refundable, so ensure you are ready to proceed before you pay.

• The licensing team will contact you if there are outstanding documents that BCCNM needs to proceed with your application.​

3. BCCNM review

BCCNM Licensing Services will assess your application to determine whether you meet the requirements for reinstatement. The requirements for reinstatement include that you:

• Were in compliance with all Quality Assurance program requirements​ at the time you last held a practising licence
• Meet the clinical experience requirement
• Have maintained your knowledge, skills and abilities as a midwife, or have successfully completed an exam or upgrading of your knowledge, skills or abilities
• Are of good character, including passing the criminal record check​ (if applicable)
  
• Are fit to practice, and
• Have paid any outstanding fines or fees
  

Note: If your licence was cancelled or suspended following an inquiry or discipline committee decision or you have a criminal charge since you last held practising licence you will be asked to provide additional information and evidence. Please contact the licensing team for more information.

4. Licensing Committee review/decision (if required)

Some applications are complex and require review and decision by the Licensing Committee. Learn more about complex applications and Licensing Committee review​.

5. Application approved/pay licence fees

If you meet the requirements for reinstatement, your application will be approved and you will be asked to pay your practising licence fees.

6. Professional liability insurance

Obtain professional liability insurance from the Midwives Association of BC if you are reinstating your practising licence. This must be in place for the date you are requesting reinstatement.

7. Wait for confirmation of licence from BCCNM

Once you have paid your licence fees, we will send you an email confirming that you have been granted a practising licence. You must not practise as a midwife until you receive confirmation of your licence.

Haven't received a confirmation email?
Your licence will not be granted until your payment has been received. Before calling to check on the status of your application, please:

• Double-check that you submitted your application and that your payment went through
• Check your junk mail and spam folders​​​
  
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